Every area in Hollow Knight: Silksong has its own unique design and mechanics, which differentiate it from the other areas. This is one reason players enjoy exploring every area before progressing to the next. However, there is a location on the map that players can reach through unconventional means. This involves being kidnapped by an enemy in an early area and having all of Hornet's belongings stolen from her. This location is The Slab, and the guide below offers information on how to reach and escape it in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Interactive Map (Pharloom)
Our interactive map for Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong. All the skills, tools, benches, and more found in the game.
How to Get to The Slab in Silksong
To reach The Slab, players must first unlock the Wall Jump ability from Shellwood, then make their way to the top-right section of Deep Docks. Right next to the red ants will be a wall-climbing section. Perform the wall climb and then go right to find an enemy with a cage. After hitting him a few times, the enemy will jump up and slam the cage down on you. The screen will turn black, and when Hornet regains consciousness, she will find herself in The Slab without her gear, equipment, and cloak.
How to Get Out of The Slab in Silksong
Right from where you spawn, press any button multiple times to get out of the cage and start to make your way down. Head through the passage on the left, and when you approach the door that requires the Indolent Key, look up to spot a breakable wall. Go up, but be careful of traps, which will start to appear throughout this area. Simply stepping on a pressure pad will cause spikes to spawn below you. Head up and left to spot several enemies above you holding Hornet's cloak and nail.
Go past this to reach outside, where a new mechanic is present, which is freeze. The longer you stay outside, your health will start to deplete until you go back inside or find a heat source. Head down and through the passage on the right. In this room, you will find three enemies, all of which you can ignore. Go to the far right, where the Indolent Gate is.
Jumping and dashing over the enemies is a great way to avoid them and not take any damage, because without your cloak, acquiring Silk and healing is going to be difficult.
Finding the Indolent Key & Map
Head down the hole, and you can talk to Grindle to your right, who is on the opposite side of the door. Head left now to find the Indolent Key hanging on a chain, but be careful because as soon as the item drops, enemies will spawn. You need to grab the item and make a run for it toward the right side.
Open the door where Grindle was previously and go through the passage at the end. When you spot an enemy patrolling the platform below you, go to the passage on the right to find Grindle again. Next to him is the bench. Before heading out, check the wall on the right, which will reveal a hidden path leading to the map of this area.
Rest at the bench and exit the room through the passage on the left, and now make your way down. Head through the passage on the right and use the Indolent Key on the door. Inside the next room, you will have an encounter with multiple enemies, but you have to defeat them to progress. Your damage is quite low, but thankfully, there are several traps on the ground that you can make use of.
After the enemies have been dealt with, head right, and you will come across a parkouring section where you can only make use of jump and dash, as you do not have your cloak and needles for the other abilities. Go up all the way and exit the area to reach the outside, where freezing is back.
Your goal here is to make it to the left side while occasionally standing next to the fire points to retain your heat levels. When you approach the lever on the other side, head back a little and wall climb, then make your way left, jumping over the enemies. Head down the hole, and to your left is a bench where you can heal and go further down, where you will find yourself directly on top of your captors.
Reclaiming Your Gear
Press the option to attack, which will allow Hornet to perform a sneak kill, acquiring her gear back. Now you will have to deal with multiple enemies, but be careful, as you do not have your equipped tools on. With the fight finished, you will get the Key of Heretic. Head right and interact with the bench to equip your tools and change your Crest if you want.
Interact with the door on your right, go through the passage, and drop down to reach the bottom. Go through the passage on your left and open the door using the Indolent Key. Drop down and head right to reach the same location where the enemy was patrolling the platform. Drop down and use the Key of Heretic to open the passage below.
The Path to the Bellway Station
As you go down, you will find a lever to your right, which opens the metal flippers. Go through the passage on the left, deal with the enemy, and head down when you spot the Bellway Station sign. Go down, and on your right will be a breakable wall, followed by another breakable wall that lets you drop down below. Go all the way down to find a bench on your right and a Bellway Station on your left, allowing you to leave this grim place if you want.
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What To Do After Exploring The Slab?
Once you are ready to leave the Slab, if you have progressed into the second act of the game and have acquired the Clawline ability, you can go left of the Bellway station to enter Mount Fay. This is a very difficult area to explore, mainly because of the freeze element always being in play. However, if you go past the perilous obstacles and reach the top of the mountain, you will acquire a very important ability that might make the game more accessible for you.
In the case that you have not completed the first act yet, you can go back to Shellwood from the Bellway Station and head to the top-left section of the map, where you will reach Blasted Steps and a very difficult boss encounter with a grueling runback.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
